Description

Title reads: "The Maquis Strikes".

French Resistance uprising, start of liberation of Paris, France.

Inside F.F.I. (French Forces of the Interior) headquarters. Various shots of men and women of the French Resistance receiving armbands and loading guns. C/Us of man and woman listening to radio for instructions from Resistance. M/S of people in street pulling down Nazi posters. Various shots of Parisians (including women and children) busy building barricades by chopping down trees and tearing up paving stones, in one shot we see the Odeon Metro in background.

Various shots of street fighting from behind barricades and from windows - the F.F.I. attack the Nazis. L/S of injured German soldier squirming on road, an F.F.I. woman runs out and takes his rifle and carries him to side of road. Various shots of Red Cross teams in action, running about with stretchers and waving Red Cross flag through the gunfire. At the Red Cross post the badly injured receive first aid.

Various shots of F.F.I. firing from points around Notre Dame, Germans snipers still occupy the cathedral. We see dead body lying next to German tank, a man with a Red cross flag runs out to retrieve it. M/S of man throwing hand-grenade from window.

Various shots of F.F.I. rounding up German prisoners and collaborators. Various harrowing shots of bodies of Frenchmen executed by the German laying along the wall of firing range. C/U of badly damaged face of F.F.I. worker. Various shots of German trucks and armour burning in the streets. One truck blows up, we see German soldiers being blown out of the truck by force of blast, their hair and clothing burning. Various L/Ss of fires burning around the dome of the Grand Palace in Champs Elysees. More shots resistance workers street fighting and firing from behind barricades.